The Government’s decision follows a public consultation that received 750,000 responses, nearly all of which objected to the closures.
In response to the public consultation, Headway launched its own survey asking brain injury survivors how they would manage train travel if ticket offices were to close. We received an overwhelming response from the brain injury community, which made it clear that many brain injury survivors would find train travel very difficult or impossible.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in our survey. Your answers allowed us to submit a robust, passionate and evidenced formal response to the consultation. This highlighted the reliance that many brain injury survivors have on public transport, and the huge difficulties many would face without the support of ticket office staff at train stations.
Headway’s response strongly suggested that train operators should reconsider their proposals to close ticket offices and reflect on the needs of brain injury survivors and other disabled people in accessing train travel.
Sarah Russell, Headway’s Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager said:
“We are delighted that the Government has taken the sensible decision to scrap proposals to close ticket offices.
“We hope that this news will bring relief to the many brain injury survivors whose ability to travel by train would have been severely impacted by the plans.
“We are still shocked that the proposals ever saw the light of day. We hope that the overwhelming response to the consultation from brain injury survivors and charities like Headway has demonstrated to the Government that the voices of disabled people must be heard and taken seriously.”
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